Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia for Lela Marilyn Fortenberry Buckley, 89, of Columbia, who passed away Friday, November 28, 2025 at her residence. Interment will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Columbia. Rev. Mark McArthur will officiate the services. Mike Bennett, Caleb Matheny, and Liza Hathorn will provide special music.

The Buckley family will receive guests on Saturday morning from 9:00 am up until the hour of service at 11:00 am at Hathorn Funeral Home.

Lela Marilyn Fortenberry Buckley was born on May 27, 1936 in Columbia, Mississippi to Sheldon Lee "Shine" and Leona Mae Williams Fortenberry. She was the oldest of three children. She attended Cedar Grove School and then Columbia High School where she was a cheerleader, member of student council, Girls' State representative, Most Beautiful, and Miss C.H.S. After graduating from C.H.S, she married David Wilson and had one daughter, Laura Ann. In 1985 she married Cody Buckley and they spent 26 very happy years together before his death in 2011.

Lela loved her family. She was a daddy's girl and loved her mother, brother, sister, nephews, and cousins. She was a devoted mother to her only child and a wonderful and special "Mammy" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, giving selflessly to them, truly embodying Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, one of her favorite and most often read children's books.

As an avid reader and gardener, Lela collected and read books of all kinds and created a beautiful yard that became a sought after location for professional photographs. She created a beautiful home and enjoyed entertaining, flower arranging, perusing cookbooks for new recipes, and cooking. She was known for hosting a Christmas breakfast for over thirty years that grew to include family, neighbors, and friends, some years serving over 75 guests between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Christmas morning.

Lela was kind, funny, fun, beautiful inside and out, and a true southern lady. Always ready with a witty comment and warm laugh, she believed everyone deserved a smile and sought to make everyone around her feel comfortable and appreciated. She valued humility and punctuality and was never one to "toot her own horn" or be fashionably late. She was a painfully shy child who one day decided not to be and became a talkative, outgoing, self-proclaimed "people person."

Her favorite holiday was Halloween. For many years she dressed up, made costumes, hosted elaborate "spook trails," and made her home a prime destination for trick-or-treaters. Her love for people and travel took her around the country and across the globe with Cody, family, and friends over the years to destinations including China, Venice, Hawaii, Alaska, the Virgin Islands, the Mediterranean, and Mexico. She enjoyed fishing and spending time with Cody at his camp on Lake Mary and was a fan of ghost stories, all things southern history and culture, fine dining, pretty clothes, legal thrillers, hand thrown pottery, and steaks cooked so rare "a good vet could bring it back."

Though Lela pursued an Elementary Education degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, she spent her career at the Marion County Chancery Clerk's office. Her co-workers were some of her greatest friends. She was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church since childhood and served in many capacities there including Sunday School teacher and Special Activities Chairperson. Later in life she attended First United Methodist Church of Columbia where she enjoyed the ladies' Sunday School class.

Throughout her life she was actively involved in her community. She was a member of many clubs and organizations over the years, including Beta Sigma Phi, Eastern Star, The Business and Professional Women of Columbia, As You Like It Club, and The Pine Needle Garden Club, in which she served in multiple offices including President. Her special relationship with her Down syndrome sister inspired her love for people with special needs and led to her many years of service as a board member of Pine Belt Mental Health.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Jimmy "Shine" Fortenberry, sister, Shellia Jean Fortenberry, and husband, Cody M. Buckley, Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Laura Ann Broome (Terry) of Columbia, grand-children Leigh Broome Hathorn (Scott) and Ryan Broome, both of Columbia; great-grandchildren Liza Hathorn of Columbus, Mississippi, and Sam Hathorn (Abby Powell), Ike Broome, Mix Broome, and Naomi Broome, all of Columbia; nephews Jamie Fortenberry (Gerri Sue) of Columbia and Jason Fortenberry (Memrie) of Jackson, Mississippi;  great-nephews and great-nieces Blake Dupuy (Brandi) and Braxton Dupuy of Columbia, and Mamie Fortenberry and Lela Fortenberry of Jackson, Mississippi; stepdaughter-in-law, Sandy Buckley; stepgrandchildren Cory Buckley, Lauren Buckley McCay (Reid), and Michael Buckley; and stepgreatgrandchildren Maggie Townsend Burge (Payton), J. Buck Townsend, Gavin McCay, and Catherine McCay.

Her family would like to thank those who helped care for Lela since her Alzheimer's diagnosis and during her last season of life: the staff at Alden Pointe Assisted Living, especially Veronica, Brenda, and Stacey; Enhabit Hospice, especially nurses Laura and Marissa; friend and caretaker Janice Jefferson; and sitters Rita Martin and Cassie Williamson.

Lela spent her last days surrounded by family and visited by friends. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Friday, November 28, 2025 in the home she grew up in that now belongs to her daughter and son-in-law. Her family loves and misses her, but celebrates 89 years of a life well-lived and the beautiful, incredible woman who loved them so well as they look forward to seeing her again.

Mrs. Buckley will be carried to her final place of rest by those honored to serve as Pallbearers; they include: Ryan Broome, Ike Broome, Mix Broome, Scott Hathorn, Sam Hathorn, Joe Stuckey, Braxton Dupuy, Jamie Fortenberry, and Jason Fortenberry.

Donations can be made in memory of Lela F. Buckley to the Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund and The Special Olympics.

Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia is in charge of the arrangements. Friends may sign an online guest register book at hathornfuneralhome.com.